Lord of Mysteries

Lord of Mysteries (2025)

My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars

The story is a little difficult to follow, but that seems to be because of how complex it is and these overlapping abilities and stories. Klein Moretti is actually Zhou Mingrui, though he is not entirely clear on how he ended up in this life. He sets off on a rather unusual quest to gain power and solve this mystery as well as many others as a Beyonder. While originally his quest was to return to his original world, he seems to come to appreciate the world he is in and the connections he has made, which makes the ending of this season even more confusing on a whole. It is also interesting how even from the beginning, he seems to be set apart from these other Beyonders in "the grey". It feels like there is a lot more going on here and the story may not be entirely finished, but most likely would need to look to the original source material for those answers and any additional information to the complexities they face in the donghua.

Heaven Official's Blessing

Heaven Official's Blessing (2020)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I started this series a long time ago and remember the ghost scene at the beginning setting off some lingering paranoia from Attack on Titan, so I never finished it. Now having seen both seasons, this is a complex and beautifully drawn story with a lot of subtle underlying tones. Xie Lian has ascended to heaven three times, which is unusual in itself. Instead of being banished quickly, he is sent on a mission that it seems no one wants to deal with but needs to be taken care of. He doesn't expect this to also kick off a strange and unusual attachment with one of the four demon kings. If anything, this series left me finally wanting more, which may be just the right draw to finally get through the novels just in time before the comics begin publishing as well.

Mo Dao Zu Shi: The Founder of Diabolism

Mo Dao Zu Shi: The Founder of Diabolism (2018)

My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars


I remember starting this series several years ago, but am unable to recall if I ever finished it, and doubtful I had watched the following seasons continuing the story. It has since been recommended multiple times in the original light normal format, and now has a color manhua release as well, lending to the series popularity. With all of this combined, and my daughter's own interest, it seemed time to pick this story back up again. The story itself is a little difficult to follow as it is very complex and pulls many clans together. In reality, the story mostly follows Wei Wuxian as he rediscovers life and the new trials of the cultivation clans. Perhaps reading the novels would give a clearer understanding, especially as the start of season 2 appears to take us back to the beginning of the original series, so it is difficult to tell if it is truly a continuation, a different point of view, or something else entirely at this stage.

Psychic Princess: Season 2

 Psychic Princess: Season 2 (2018)

My rating: 1 of 5 stars


Normally, I don't rate seasons separately unless they appear under different titles, however, the change in this story is so drastic that it needs a separate opinion. The art in the original animation was beautifully done, leading to an amusing and unusual courtship between the main characters. This new season picks up directly at the end of the last one, except the art is in a 3D style, and instead of the gentle story we had before, we have random riff offs, character dances, and the most cringe worth heart kisses complete with total NPC bad acting an movements that can make you cry (and not in a good way). Honestly I couldn't make it past the first episode with the sheer volume of cringe, changes in the art, and different character designs. Unsure if it may get better later on, but it's really hard to imagine with just how badly this deviates all around.

Psychic Princess

Psychic Princess (2018)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This tale seems to be adapted from a live action drama rather than usual printed variety that is common. With little to go off of other than that it was recommended along with several other series that I've thoroughly enjoyed, there wasn't much expectation or knowledge going into this series. The intro itself is hilarious, with upbeat music and silly dances to catch the watcher's eye before the story even unfolds. Qian Yun Xi is considered an outcast among her family, sent to live in the mountains due to her unusual abilities until it is convenient for the family to summon her back in order to take her sister's place in an arranged marriage with Prince Ye Youming. Given Prince Ye is part of the opposite faction as Qian's father, it isn't too surprising then that neither part seem too pleased with this arranged marriage and want nothing to do with each other - to the point they don't even recognize each other when they meet outside the palace. Ye is convinced that his new wife must be a spy for her previous family... that is, if she really is that good of an actress while also somehow being a constant surprise and somewhat childish at the same time. With the exception of Beauty Chu, who grips her position as the favored concubine and headmistress of the Ye Palace with an iron first, it's little wonder the rest of the royal family and those who get to know the new princess are taken by her charm and unique perspective.

The Fated Magical Princess: Who Made Me a Princess

The Fated Magical Princess: Who Made Me a Princess (2025)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This has been a long time coming, but the art is gorgeous. So far, the story seems to follow the written publication fairly well, though of course there are small adjustments for the media source to keep the story flowing and engaging. Anthy truly is adorable, though sometimes a little clueless. While it is clear that Anthy knows her "fate" in the beginning, her previous life and the reason why she can pick up on things so quickly at her young age is glossed over very quickly. If a watcher hadn't read the book, they most likely would think that Anthy just happens to have these dreams that forewarn her and show her the story of how her life is to play out rather than that she had read the story in a previous life. Regardless of that rather dramatic change, the interactions between Anthy and her caretakers are adorable, as are the interactions she has with Claude, even if she is still terrified of making him angry at the cost of her own life.

King of Jin in Tang Dynasty

King of Jin in Tang Dynasty (2019)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Also known by the titles Xie Wang Zhui Qi or The Demonic King Chases His Wife, the story is based on a novel and follows Su Lou who goes from a life as an assassin on earth to the "fourth miss" of the Su Manor in a land where god-like abilities are a large part of life and your standing in high society. It's very vague how it could be possible to live in both places at once and not be aware of it until you die in one world only, but her story takes a lot of seemingly impossible twists and turns as she unravels who she is and where she came from. While at first it seems like everyone is against her except for oddly Lord Jin who takes an immediate liking to her and refuses to let her go. Somehow these two work together, and you can't help but cheer for them, especially when memories of her past life start becoming a lot clearer and have more impact on why certain things are happening now in this world. It's a convoluted but also touching isekai romance.

Spiritpact

Spiritpact (2016)

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I watched this a year or two ago and apparently never remembered to write about it. You Keika had a rather unfortunate life surviving on his own as the last heir to a line of exorcists until his untimely death. Fortunately for him, his afterlife is saved by Tanmoku Ki, the prodigal and most powerful exorcist of a very strong family tasked with maintaining peace and order, often at the cost of Ki's own health and safety. It takes some convincing and a lot of ceremony, but these two essentially are bound by their very spirits, making them more or less married, which is where the romance comes into play, though it is mostly lowkey and in jest so the viewer can choose to make it part of their cannon or not. Regardless of what anyone thinks of their relationship though, it is clear these two do form a strong bond and rely on each other for their lives.